The Velvet Forum

It'll be a big day for any VU fan: the 40th Anniversary of that 'debut' gig supporting the Myddle Class. No doubt most of us will just be playing as much VU as possible but is that it? No planned docs or tributes?

Perhaps our one & only tribute band - Underground Velvets - would consider a gig on this day? If so I would make an effort this time to go!

DECEMBER 11th IS THE ACTUAL DATE OF THAT GIG...

And tomorrow will be the 35 th aniversary of Lou's departure
And you except a commemoration of that?
Don't dream...

jimjim wrote: Perhaps our one & only tribute band - Underground Velvets - would consider a gig on this day? If so I would make an effort this time to go!

I'm sure it could be arranged, but then December 11th is a Sunday-not really a great day for a gig as people don't really come out much on Sunday nights (too many people have school in the morning )

Incidentally there's a gig next month that I might as well mention while Jim-Jim is on the subject (you can PM me with any questions)


Underground Velvets
Friday 16th September, 9.45pm
Live at the Hope and Anchor, 207 Upper St Islington, London
?6 entry (?4.50 with flyer, available at the upstairs bar before the gig)
Venue/Listing info: http://www.bugbearbookings.com

Yeah, I know...it ws December 11th...hey, I just realised my sis's 30th birthday is the same day! Ha! Spooky or what?

Wonder why I thought it was November? Hmm.

WELL JIMJIM, WE HAVE LIVED WITH THE NOV 11th DATE FOR YEARS THAT IT IS SO EASY TO TAKE THE WRONG ONE!
FOR ME IS MUCH EASIER: I HAVE A NICE T-SHIRT WITH THE POSTER OF THIS FIRTS VU GIG, WHICH I WEAR A LOT ON THE SUMMER TIME. IS ALWAYS A GOOD REMINDER.

I had a friend (deceased now) whose roomate actually attended that first gig. It drives me nuts, first of all because it should have been me , and second because it's not that big a deal to him. He thinks it's cool to have seen it, but you know, for me it would be one of the major events of my life. Summit High School is only about a half hour by train from me.

Anyway, he says it was just like the legend claims, that as they started playing, half the crowd just got up and walked out. He and his friends were 16, and they were getting up to go have a smoke outside, but when they saw how threatening and unorthodox the group looked, they turned right around and took thier seats. They thought it was great.

Don't you wish to god a tape would surface?

jimjim wrote:December 11th...hey, I just realised my sis's 30th birthday is the same day! Ha! Spooky or what?

My brother's birthday as well!

Talking of peole who were actually at THAT gig, this thread reminded me of the following which was sent to me a couple of years ago:

"Yes, I actually did see the Velvet Underground back in the fall of 1965. I was 15 at the time, and they were the second band in a show at one of the local high schools, which was produced by Al Aronowitz, who later became something of a legendary writer on the rock scene. Some acquaintances of mine were in the featured band, which was managed by Al. At this time the Velvet Underground had its original lineup, and this was also prior to their association with Andy Warhol. Fifteen minute songs were unheard of at this time, not to mention electric viola solos. About half of the audience walked out, and most of those remaining really couldn't comprehend what they were hearing. "Heroin" was a stark contrast compared to the Beatles tunes dominant at that time. This was an experience not to be forgotten, to put it mildly."


I know this guy through a musicians website (acid planet) he lives in New Jersey, I was thinking of getting him to write me some more about what he remembers about that day.

.

Al Arnowitz died recently. you can see more at his website:
http://www.bigmagic.com/pages/blackj/
I loved his passages in "Please Kill Me." he had a very cynic, funny way of describing things.